Richard Roby Interview

DraftExpress Director of Prep Scouting Rodger Bohn recently sat down with Colorado sophomore shooting guard Richard Roby. Roby, who announced that he will be entering the NBA Draft, spoke about his decision to enter, what it will take for him to stay in this years draft, and his struggles late in the season among a wide variety of topics that were brought up.

DraftExpress: You were one of the very first players to announce that they were entering the NBA Draft. Can you tell me a little about why you decided to enter this year?

Roby: I thought that I had a good enough year that Ive been on the NBA radar all season. I thought I had a good year, but I didnt end the season like I wanted to. It probably put a question mark in their minds about me a little bit. I feel that if I go to camps and workouts that Ill be able to change their minds. Plus Im just testing the waters. Im not hiring an agent, so I can always come back to school.

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DraftExpress: You mentioned your struggles late in the season. What was different? Why do you feel you struggled so much after having such a hot start?

Roby: There were two parts during the season that I had my highs. Right before Christmas, and right in the beginning of the Big 12 season. After I had those games where I was scoring a ton of points, teams really began to key on me and we didnt really make any adjustments to counter that. I knew it was going to be like that after a couple of games. Teams were going to try to X me out of the games and we were doing the same things that we were doing before and that wasnt going to work with the changes the defenses were making. Because of that, I struggled a little bit. When I would struggle, my team would usually struggle.

DraftExpress: Didnt it go through your head that the struggles you just talked about could have really affected your draft stock?

Roby: I took it into consideration. It made me much more careful about whether I put my name all the way in or if I take it out. Its really going to come down to the workouts. Plus this year, Ive been hearing that a lot of teams need players that play my position, so a lot of teams will need two guards this year and thats what I play.

DraftExpress: Now you spoke of about how youre just testing the waters, but its been reported that you withdrew from all your classes. How are you going to be eligible at Colorado for next season if you were to pull out?

Roby: I did withdraw from all my classes, but I picked up two correspondence classes to make sure that will keep me eligible for next year. I talked to all the eligibility people and academic advisors to make sure that I did everything correctly to play next year.

DraftExpress: Earlier you had mentioned how key you felt that workouts and the pre-draft camps were. Are you open to playing in the NBA Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando?

Roby: Yes. Im not 100% if Im going to play in it, but its still definitely an option. I dont want to close the door on that option yet.

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DraftExpress: So if you were in the situation that you werent a definite first round pick, youd go play in the Pre-Draft Camp?

Roby: Yeah, definitely. Im never nervous about playing in anything where I can showcase my game. Im never nervous about me going up against anybody or me being exposed. Personally, I just feel that I would excel. I have a lot of confidence in my game.

DraftExpress: Where do you feel that youll be picked in this years draft if you stay in?

Roby: Ive heard from different people, but Ive heard 14-22, even into the early second round. Mostly what Ive been hearing though is mid to late first round. Thats mostly what Ive been hearing. You never know whats exactly true or not though.

DraftExpress: Whats it going to take for you to stay in this years draft?

Roby: Im going to have to have good workouts and be confident in the information that Im receiving from people. Im just going to put it in Gods hands basically. I feel he has a plan for me. I think if I have good workouts for the teams individually against some of the other top players that will really determine where I go.

DraftExpress: So are you looking for a first round promise to stay in?

Roby: Definitely. If its even close, Ill come back to school.

DraftExpress: What areas of your game are you really looking to improve in the period that we have now before workouts with NBA teams begin?

Roby: I could polish up a little bit of everywhere, but mainly ball handling type things and creating separation. Also, you can never shoot enough, so theres definitely going to be a lot of shooting.

DraftExpress: Have you decided what youre going to do as far as pre-draft training?

Roby: Im not 100% yet, but there are a couple of options that Im looking at right now. Im going to talk to my mom and Kenyon [Martin, his half brother], and then make a decision.

DraftExpress: Are you looking to go back to California to train, or will you go wherever you feel you can improve the most?

Roby: If youre going to get me ready, Im going to be there. Id prefer to stay in California, but if that doesnt work out, then Ill deal with it. Ive been away from home since I was 14, so thats not a problem.

DraftExpress: Thanks Richard, that about covers it all. I appreciate you taking the time out of your hectic schedule to talk to us. Best of luck with your pre-draft training and workouts leading up to the draft.

Roby: Thank you. Ill definitely keep in touch.

Scouting Report

Jonathan Givony

Strengths

Roby has decent size for a shooting guard at 6-5 or 6-6, complimented by an excellent wingspan that allows him to get his shot off in tough situations and cause some distractions on the defensive end.

His best attribute as far as NBA scouts are concerned has to be considered his jump-shot; featuring inconsistent shooting mechanics, nice rotation, good range, a quick release and the versatility to get it off and knock down shots in a number of ways. Roby can knock down shots with the catch and shoot as well as off the dribble, being able to put the ball on the floor for one or two short dribbles and pull up from behind the arc or from mid-range, although at this point in his career he is much better from standstill positions with his feet set. He also shows some raw ability to receive the ball 12-14 feet from the hoop with his back to the basket and elevate for a smooth looking turnaround jump-shot. Being a very intelligent player, Roby knows how to move off the ball in the half-court to find holes in the defense to get his shot off, particularly coming off screens from mid-range. Like most natural shooters, Roby is a fairly confident player who will not hesitate to pull the trigger on his jump-shot if he thinks hes in a position to score, for better or for worse.

Defensively, he has nice potential because of his length, already being able to get in the passing lanes, block shots and bother his matchup when he is committed to doing so.

He is also a nice passer thanks to his high basketball IQ, being highly unselfish and generally understanding his teammates strengths and where they like to get the ball. Roby his a good court demeanor and gives off the impression as the type of talented player who will eventually succeed.

Weaknesses:

Robys frame is fairly narrow and bulk is less than ideal at only 190 pounds. This negatively affects many key parts of his game at the moment. Defensively he has problems fighting through screens, and his average lateral quickness already will make him a bit of a liability on this end until he can find a way to add more strength. People we spoke to at Colorado think he will only end up measuring out at around 6-5, which is below average when considering his lack of bulk.

Right now Roby is a bit of a one-dimensional player known more for his perimeter shooting ability than anything. When his shot wasnt falling as we saw many times this season there was not too much he could do to contribute to his teams effort. Roby shows no conscience with his jump-shot and will continue to force the issue until it either eventually starts going in or the game ends. This is something that really hurt both his team and his shooting percentages at times, as despite the potential he shows as an outside shooter, he only knocked down 35.6% of his attempts from behind the arc on the year and 42.2% overall. He was especially cold down the stretch when his team needed him most to help secure an NCAA tournament berth, shooting an abysmal 53/162 (32%) from the field in the months of February and March.

Roby struggles to create space for himself because of his average ball-handling skills and overall athletic ability, something that is only likely to get worse once he reaches the next level. His overall quickness and first step are just average for an NBA shooting guard, which hurts his slashing potential and allows defenders to crowd him on the perimeter and force him into tough, contested jump-shots. Once Colorado finished up their cupcake non-conference schedule and the stronger Big 12 teams had time to develop an effective scouting report for him, his percentages from the field plummeted.

His lack of strength and ball-handling skills make him susceptible to intense pressure defense and cause him problems with turnovers if he decides to force the issue and put the ball on the floor, which he usually will not. One major question that Roby will have to answer at the Orlando pre-draft camp is whether he has the ability or potential to create his own shot, since history shows us that standstill jump-shooters are considered a dime a dozen and are drafted accordingly. When Roby does get to the basket, he often lacks the strength to finish effectively.

Roby is a little too quiet out on the floor for a player who was considered his teams first option and go-to guy. Hes developed a reputation for being a bit on the soft side.

Defensively, as mentioned already, he is just average at this point beyond his ability to get in the passing lanes. He lacks the strength, quickness and intensity to be a shut-down defensive type, and is often late to rotate on team defense.

Competition

Roby plays in the Big 12, a high major NCAA conference that suffered from a down year and only sent 4 teams to the NCAA tournament. His team played an extremely weak out of conference schedule (ranked 271st in the country) and missed out on playing in the postseason after going 9-7 in the Big 12 but just 1-5 against the teams that ended up making the tournament. He averaged 17 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists on the year on 42.2% FG and 35.6% 3P, but only shot 33% from the field and 34% from 3-point range against teams that ended up making the NCAA tournament.

Outlook:

Despite being considered a likely 2nd round pick by most educated analysts and NBA scouts we've spoken with, Roby decided to use his lone draft card and put his name in this years draft.

Roby is in a very tough situation, possibly feeling like his stock may have peaked as a sophomore and maybe not having enough faith in his ability to help his stock next year with Colorado graduating 10 seniors.

Roby says he will not hire an agent and will decide whether to stay in the draft based on his performance at the Orlando pre-draft camp.

If he decides to withdraw, his situation next year becomes very complicated since he will have to play well enough on a young and talent deprived team to ensure that he is a definite first-round pick before forfeiting his remaining college eligibility by entering the draft again as a junior.

An NBA scout we spoke with says that Roby is a first round talent but a likely 2nd round pick.

In a draft class lauded for its guards, three exceptionally talented, and wildly different, forward prospects sit in the top six of our mock draft, each taking a very different path to the top, and demonstrating wildly contrasting strengths and weaknesses. So who is the best prospect among the three?